Annealing lehr



A. H. BAKER ANNEALING LEI-IR Dec. 6, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1'7, 1953 ATTORNL'Y IN V EN TOR.

ARV/0 H. Bil/(2 BY D c- 6, 1955 A. H. BAKER 2,725,680

ANNEALING LEI-IR Filed July 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARV/D H. BAKER A TTORNE Y Dec. 6, 1955 A. H. BAKER 2,725,680

ANNEALING LEHR Dec. 6, 1955 B KER 2,725,680

ANNEALING LEHR Filed July 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.9

FIG.8

\ BY L g A TTOQ/VE Y UnitedStates Patent ANNEALING LEHR Arvid H. Baker, Port Allegany, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, Allegheny County, Pa., a carporation of Pennsylvania Application July 17, 1953, Serial No. 368,716

10 Claims. (Cl. 49-47) ing-the material being annealed through these zones. The

invention is specifically directed to the annealing of cellular glass which requires rather specific and defined zones of temperature, but is not limited in application to this specific material. One object of the present invention is the construction and heating of lehrs for the intended purpose in which'substantially uniform temperature is maintained throughout a plane transversely of each zone.

' Another object of the invention is the provision, of means for providing substantially vertical as opposed to transverse circulation of-air currents through and about the materials being annealed. 1 *A-further object of the invention is a novel arrangement of vertically mounted fans for maintaining two way vertical circulation of air currents Within the effective zone of each fan and without substantial lateral movement of air currents between adjacent effective zones of such fans disposed longitudinallyofthelehr. i These and other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds. l :Cellular glass is a product which is used as 31 11111811: lator and as a lightweight impermeable substitute for; cork in-life rafts, floats and other like purposes, This produ'ct 'k omprises myriad gas'cells enclosed by thin glass walls 'forrned by heatingglass to asoftened condition "and I ei panding the glass by means of entrapped gases therein Qne successful method" is "to 'mixpulverized glass and carbon, heat the mixture in closed"molds' to softenithe glass into a cohered mass, and upon increasing the temperature the entrapped carbon reacts with sulfi'de's in' the glass to generate gases which expand and cellulate the g-l'ass fiThe process of preparing cellular glassds well khown'i'n-the patented an. 1 QA'fter'the' cellulated glass is removed from the molds; it m ust' be annealed and it is this annealing is the subject of the present invention. Cellular glass'du'e tdits'structure is very' brittle because of the thi'n' glass wallsof the cells. It.is also a product which'is diflicult to anneal since it is a very poor conductor of heat. Hence, the annealing-cycle includes slow reheatingtiof the product after removal from the molds and then slowly reducing the temperature while avoiding sudden temperature changes which would; cause breaking or cracking; Hence the need for elimination of all strong air currents cutting. across a'plurality of the. 'annealingzones'.

; Referring now to the drawings, Fig.1 is a: view in elevation of a lehr embodying the invention;'- 7 "Fig. 2-shows' in verticai cross-section a'portion of the'lehrofFig-.1 p 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section ,t aken 'along lines IIIIII of the lower portion of thelehr shown in Fi a ice line IV=-IV ofrFig. 1' in the zone above the products being annealed; r v

liig. 5 J83 transverse vertical section through the lehr as indicated by lines VV of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the lehr as indicatedby lines VIVI of Fig. 4;

a Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of a lehr similarto that of Figs. 1 6 in which only one row of fans is employed in'the cooling portion of the lehr rather than a plurality of rows;

Fig; 8 is a transverse vertical section through thelehr asfindicat'ed'by lines VII IVIII of Fig. 7, and

I Fig.9 is a transverse vertical section through the lehr' as indicated by lines IX --IX of Fig. 7.

Referring now in detail tothe drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, reference character 10 indicates the-discharge end of a cellular glass heating and cellulating furnace, reference character 12 the annealing lehr, and'reference character 13 a conventional representation of means for receiving the product dischargedfrom lehr'12.-

--Lehr 12 is essentially an elongated hollow tunnel having a roof 14, sidewalls 16, bottom wall 18 and having appropriate movable end closurewalls of suitable design forming no part of the present invention. Roof 14 has a downwardly ofi'set portion 20 adjacent the discharge end of the lehr. The bottom wall has upwardly ofiset portions 22, -23 and25 'the purpose of which will be described laten- The"side-walls are suitably reinforced by vertical members of suitable design.

s illustrated inFigsLl and 2, the lehris comprised of a plurality of longitudinally disposed temperature zones some 'of which require outside heat and others which utilize the residual heat in the product being annealed. The heated zones are shown as being six in number. It will be ;'understodd,' however, that this number maybe increased or decreased as required. -Each heated temperattire Izoneothe lehr'coinprises a pair of transverse baffle wallsQS connected by'a longitudinally disposed baflle wall 29:.locat'edxsubstantially intermediate the side walls 16. Each pair ofzwalls 28 thus substantially define a tempera ture'zone .transverselynof the lehr and the wall 29 prevents excessive transverse currents within the lower portionof the heated zone. 1

z..-Each. heated temperature zone includes an upper or outlet conduit 3 0;and a lo'werorinlet conduit 33 whicheXtend-into the zone throughxthe sidewalls 16. Each con-' duit.f3.0f and'33 i's perforated forasubstantial portion 'of Fig.4 is a longitudinal cross-section. of the lehr at itsylen'gth to. receiveor discharge a gas. Exteriorly of the lehreach outlet conduit 30 is connected through a vertical..conduit334 with. a receiver 36 to the center of a vertical impeller fan 37 'actuatedbyfmotor 38. The gases are directedz'intothe center ofthe-impeller fan 37 and impelled, outwardly by centrifugal force to conduit 40 which is, connected; to the periphery of the impeller fan housing. For purposes ofeconomy adjacent outlet conduitsj30'may .be'connected together at opposite ends, Eigs. 12- and 4 of the'drawings, and may then be serviced by one outside vertical conduit '34, fan 37 and motor 38. Each inletconduit 33 extends through the adjacent side wall 16 and isconnected to a suitable-gas burneror other heating device 41.: The burner 41- is supplied-with suit ablefuel lines (not shown). Each burner 41 and inlet conduit 33 1s connected by a' suitableconduit 40 with the fan 37. Each burner 41 is preferably capable of individual adjustment so as-to control the temperature of gasesadmitted to the lehr through its associated inlet ami-H t as. t

y reason of gases of combustion 'being constantly admitted through conduits 33 from burners 41, there is a tendency" to build up pressure within these zones which would induce flow ofv gases from one zone to another 1 y of the lehr. Therefore, manually controlled ulet's 42 are prsviaa' the leli'i" rest if) Eithaust these excess gases. These exhaust outlets 42 may beef any suitable form and may be controlled naturally intermediate the inlet and outlet conduits- 3i) and 35, and eatending longitudinally of the le hr is a conveyor belt 44 for transporting articles through the any Belt 44 is continuous and is mounted on suitably disposed rollers 45 and 46 at the inlet and exit ends of the lehr. A suitable. drive and tightening devicefor belt 44 is illustrated as 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52. Suitable rollers 54 support conveyor belt 44 within the lehr. I d I Referring now to the area of the lehr adjacent the discharge end thereof, wherein residual heat within the article being annealed is utilized to maintain temperature zones, fans 56 and 57 are substituted for the conduits 30 and 33. These fans are mounted in pairs transversely of the lehr and rotate in opposite directions. Thesepairs of fans are spaced longitudinally of the lehr and the direction of their rotation is. such that the direction of rotation of any one fan is opposite in direction to each adjacent fan disposed longitudinally or transversely of the lehr. The blades of each fan are constructed so that the pitch of the blades of each fan is opposite to that of the blades of each adjacent fan both longitudinally and transversely of the lehr. I

. The effect on air currents within the lehr as a result of the foregoing method of operation of the fans is to provide substantially vertically downwardly flowing air currents directly beneath the fan and upwardly flowing air current between the fans, and between the fans and the "adjacent lehr side walls. The fans are of the propelling type and verticallymounted on shafts 59 extending through the roof of the lehr. Any suitable drive mechanism 60 may be used to connect shafts 59 to motors 61. Suitable means may be includedin the drive "mechanism 68 so that the speeds of fans 56 and '57 may be varied if desired.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of -the drawings, Fig. 4 has indicated thereon the arrangement of the "respective fans 56 and 57. It will be observed that all fans 56 rotate in the same direction, which in the 'driiw ing is indicated as counter-clockwise. All fans 57 rotate in one direction, but in the opposite direction to that of fans 56. In other words, fans 57 are indicated as rotating in a clock-wise direction. The direction "of movement of air currents set up by 'each'fan 'isindicated by arrows having wave shaped shafts. Upon reference toFig. 5 it will be observed this figure represents a transverse vertical section through the axis of rotation of both fans 56 and 57. Here the wavy shafted arrows indicate substantially. vertically downward air currents directly beneath the fans and upwardly directed air currents be tween the fansand between each fan andthe adjacent lehr side wall. Similarly, in 'Fig. 6 which is a transverse vertical section through the'lehr and between the fans as indicated by lines VI VI of Fig. 4 the air currents within this area are flowing in an upwardly direction. Combining-disclosures'of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be apparent that thecounter rotations of'adjacent fans p'reventlon'g-itudinal :movement of aircurren'ts within the lehr and provilde substantially vertical movement of air currents in opposite directions beneath and adjacent each fan. Hence, each transverse pair :of fans 56 and 57 provides a transverse zone within which the temperature is triaintained substantially uniform by utilizing residual heat within the articles movingfthrough the zone upon the conve'yo'r 44.

A further embodiment of. the invention as illustrated by "Figs. "4, 5 and '6 is shown in Figs. '7, '8 and 9. in this embodiment a single row of fans is disposed tangitudinally and centrally within the -le'lir and na'unea for rotationabout vertical axesfinsteadofaplurality-of dws of fans as 'shownin Fig. 4. The blades of the fans "56 and57'are constructed so thatthe'pitchof the blades of each fan is opposite to that of the blades of each adjac'ii't fan. The direction of rotation of each fan is also opposite to that of each adjacent fan. The fans 56 and 57 are vertically mounted on shafts 59 extending through the roof of the lehr and connected to motors 61 by suitable drive mechanisms 60.

Here again, the effect of currents within the lehr as a result of such operation of the fans 56 and 57 is to provide substantially vertically downwardly flowing currents directly beneath the fans and upwardly flowing currents between the fans, and between-the fans and adjacent lehr side walls. The vertical movement of the currents set up by each fan in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is indicated by arrows having wavy shafts in Figs. 8 and 9. In Fig. 8, which is a transverse vertical section through the axis of rotation of the fan 56, the arrows indicate substantially downward movement of the air directly beneath the fan and upward movement between the fan and the adjacent lehr side walls. In Fig. -9, which is a transverse vertical section through the lehr and between the fans as indicated by lines IX-iX of Fig.

7, air currents are shown to be moving upwardly inthis area between the fans. 7

Referring again to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the stepped portion 22 of the bottom wall of the lehr and beneath the first group of four fans is provided with transverse walls 28 and longitudinal dividing Wall 29. This, in effect, provides a four walled enclosure beneath each fan. The articles being annealed beneath these first four fans are just moving out of temperature zones into which additional heat is provided and into zones in which the residual heat of the product being annealed is utilized. The necessity for uniformity of temperature in each zone beneath each fan necessitates use of these walls 28 and 29. In cases where'less uniformity of temperature control is needed, these walls 28 and 29 may be omitted. Each of the remaining stepped portions, 23 and 25 of the lehr bottom wall reduces the space beneath the conveyor belt 44 and the lehr bottom' wall. Thtis reduced spacing also makes unnecessary walls 28 and 29 for reasons hereinafter set forth.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 5 and 8 of the drawings, air currents moving from beneath each fan move downwardly and impinge upon the lehrbottom wall. These impinging air currents therefore tend to buildup a cushion of air. upon the bottom wall. Within this air cushion the air currents tend to flow outwardly from beneath the impinging air and thence upwardly in the zones between the fans. Obviously therefore, the air cushions thus formed tend to fill the spacebeneath the conveyor belt andthe lehr bottom wall making walls 28 and 29 unneess'ar v v i v 1 The horizontal componentof the currents created by the fans 56 and 57 within the coolingend of the lehr is shown in Figs. 4 and 7. It can be seen thatv the horizontal component of the currents created by fans 56 is counterclockwise when viewed from below andtlie horizontal component of the currents created by fans 57 is clockwise when viewed from"below. It can also be seen that there is a slight mixing ofthe's e currents created by eachfan with each other. The horizontal component of these currents brings warmer air into contact with cooler air at each zone of mixing and enables the production of a temperature gradient throughout the length of the cooling portion "of "the lehr.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the 'drawingspthe cellular glass within the molds moves out-of the'ce'llulating furnace 10. The molds are removed and the cellularglass slabs A are placed upon conveyor belt f 44 so as to move through the lehr 12. Within the heated zones of the lehr, uniform -temperature is maintained by introducing heated gases, from conduits ,33 below the conveyor 44. Due to "individually controlled heating meansdl associated with each inlet conduit 33, substantial'hori z'ontal uniformity 'ofte'r'rip'eratureis 'inaintained between-each opposing inlet conduits 33 andadjacent outlet ,conduit 30. Likewise 'walls 28; and 29.:define zones" of heat about each inlet conduit 33. Hence, having outlet conduit 30 above each inlet conduit 33, definite transverse'temperature zones are maintained ,longitudinally of the lehr, without detrimental-,mingling of the two diiferently heated streams of gases flowing between the adjacentvertically disposed pairs of conduits 30 and 33. Due to the foraminous nature of the conveyor belt 44 and the spacing of slabs A thereon, as indicated in Figs. and 6, the vertical movements of the air currents are relatively unimpeded. As the slabs A move beneath fans 56 and 57, the slabs are being cooled, so that the cooling air currents move downwardly from the fans between the slabs A and through belt 44 to impinge upon the bottom of the lehr and return to the top of the lehr as hereinbefore set forth. y

By, the use. of the foregoing apparatus, operated in the manner described, certain advantages are secured which areof extreme importance in annealing cellular glass. As is well known in the patented art, cellular glass is an extremely critical material to anneal. Due tothe process of manufacture and the multiplicity of cells forming the product, it is not only very brittle before annealing but is also a very poor conductor of heat. The result of the foregoing is that the interior cells are soft and still expanding while the exterior cells have hardened as the product is removed from the mold and placed in the annealing lehr. Obviously then, any pronounced draft longitudinally through the lehr, as is usual in the heretofore known types of lehr construction, would cause undesired chilling of the exteriorsurface of the slabs and result .in fractures of the exterior surface. Hence, the necessity for prevention of longitudinal movements of air currents within the lehr.

As set forth above, the herein disclosed and described apparatus very effectively prevents such undesirable longitudinal movements of air. Also, since the material is, such a poor conductor of heat, the temperature increases and decreases must be obtained in a very uniform and gradual manner. Therefore, the disclosed apparatus by maintaining uniformity in a horizontal plane transversely of the lehr provides uniform heating and cooling of the product. Because of the low thermal conductivity of the product, a period of as high as 24 hours is often required to safely and efiiciently anneal the slabs. This slow movement of the slabs through the lehr permits the obtaining of uniform temperatures throughout the crosssectional area of the slabs.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as included in the accompanying claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 120,196, filed October 7, 1949, and now abandoned.

I claim:

1. An annealing apparatus comprising an elongated tunnel-like lehr, a conveyor movable longitudinally through the lehr, a longitudinally disposed row of fans mounted within the lehr for rotation about vertical axes, each of said fans having blades whose pitch is opposite to that of the blades of each adjacent fan, and means for roating each fan in a direction opposite to that of each adjacent fan.

2. An annealing apparatus comprising an elongated tunnel-like lehr, a conveyor movable longitudinally through the lehr, a plurality of longitudinally disposed rows of fans mounted within the lehr for rotation about vertical axes, the fans in each row being in line transversely of the lehr with a corresponding fan of the adjacent row, each of said fans having blades whose pitch is opposite to that of the blades of each adjacent fan both transversely and longitudinally of the lehr, and means orw e h-r a r rction p es este m nor; each adjacent fan both transversely and'longitudinally of the l ehr yu ,1; we} NJ I v 3-v *A annealing, appa at co p sin =.e qusa ed e. leh -.a o g r mcy le-th ou h-rth 21 1 means spaced longitudinally,Oflaportion of--said lehnpror, viding a. series of individuallycontrolled heated zones and means spaced longitudinallyofa portion of-the lehr pro: viding a series ofwcooled-zones, said lattermeans com prising a longitudinally disposed row of fansimou-nted within the lehr for rotation about vertical axes, each-of said fans having blades whose pitch is opposite to that of the blades of each adjacent fan, and means for rotating each fan in a direction opposite to that of each adjacent fan. I 4. An annealing apparatus comprising an elongated tunnel-like lehr, a conveyor movable through the lehr, means spaced longitudinally of a portionof said lehr providing a series of individually controlled heated zones and means spaced longitudinally of a portion of the lehr providing a series of cooled zones, said latter means comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed rows'of fans mounted withinthe lehr for rotation about vertical axes, the fans in each row being in line transversely of the lehr with a corresponding fan of the adjacent row, each of saidfans having bladeswhose pitch is oppositeto that of the bladesof each adjacent fan both transversely and longitudinally of the lehr, an'dmeansfor rotating each fan in adirection opposite to that of each adjacent fan both transversely and longitudinally of thelehnv 5; In an annealing apparatusfincluding an elongatedv tunnel divided into a longitudinal spaced series of individually controlled temperature zones and av conveyor belt extending longitudinally of the tunnel dividing sameinto upper and lower .zo nes, th e combinationof alongitudinally spaced series of transveresly disposed pairs 'of vertically mounted fans within, the .upper zone, each of said 'fans transversely and longitudinally. of,said tunnelhaving blades whosepitch is opposite to that of the'bla'des of each adjacent fan both transversely and longitudinally of the lehr, and means for rotating each fan in a direction opposite to that of each adjacent fan both transversely and longitudinally of the lehr, thereby providing vertical blasts of air upon the conveyor, and vertically returning air currents moving between said vertical blasts of air, to provide a substantially uniform temperature within a temperature zone defined by each transverse pair of fans.

6. In an annealing apparatus, the combination of an elongated tunnel, a conveyor moving longitudinally of the tunnel for conveying articles to be annealed, and means for maintaining a longitudinal series of independent temperature zones within a portion of said tunnel and substantially free of longitudinally moving air currents comprising a longitudinal series of transversely disposed pairs of oppositely rotating vertically mounted fans above the conveyor, each pair of fans-having blades whose pitch is opposite to that of the blades of each adjacent fan, both transversely and longitudinally of the lehr and defining a temperature zone in which air currents move downwardly beneath each fan and upwardly between each fan and between each fan and the adjacent tunnel wall, said air currents maintaining substantially uniform temperature in any horizontal plane within each temperature zone by circulation of heat given off by the articles moving longitudinally of the tunnel upon said conveyor, and means for rotating each fan in a direction opposite to that of each adjacent fan both transversely and longitudinally of the lehr.

7. Apparatus for annealing slabs of cellular glass heated above the critical temperature, said apparatus comprising an elongated tunnel-like lehr, a conveyor belt moving longitudinally of the lehr for carrying the slabs, and two longitudinally disposed rows of propeller fans mounted above the belt within the lehr for rotation about vertical axes to direct streams of air upon the slabs, the

eme ged:

fans in *eachwrow *bein'g in line transveree'ly'ref are il hr with the -cor'respondi'ng' fan o'f- 'the adjacent 1 row, each-gran having blades whose pitch is opposite to that of the-blades of each adjacent ran betn transversel rand longitudinally of the lehr, ahd irieans -for rotating each fan in a direction opposite to that of each adjac'ent fan both tra'n'sversely and longitudinall y of th'e lehr to ereate' transverse substantially 'u'nifo'r'm tempezratu're zone's ="spaced longitudinally of =th'e l'ehr and without substantial flow of =air long'itudinall-y of the lehr.

8. I n an "annealing apparatus including an elongated tunnel divided --into longitudinally spaced series of individuany controlled temperature "zones l and anapertured conveyor belt extending longitudinally of the tunnel, -'the combination of a pair of transversely spaced, vertically fnounte'd fans withine'ah' of a plurality'of adjacent zones at o'ne end er the tunnel, ='eac h"'of 'the fans having blades Whose pitch is opposite 'to that of the blades of each adjacent'fan bothtransversely and longitudina'lly of the le'h'r, "and-means for rotatingeach fan in a direction oppo'site to that of each 'adjacent "fan both transversely and longitudinally "of the 'ilehr, thereby providing vertical eurren't s of the air-"doWnw'ardly-upon and=through the conveyofbelt to impinge upon the tunnelfloor and vertically returning currents of -air moving between the downwardly directedcurrents and adjacent the'o'pposite tunnel side 'walls to provide substantially uniform temperature within the "zone from "the residual heat -v vith'i'n the material moving through the zone upon the conveyor 'belt.

9. An annealing apparatus comprising wall means forming a tunnel-like "l'ehr, a conveyor means "extending longitudinally of the km for carrying articles to be annealed through said leh'r and dividing the "lehr into upper and lower zones-transverse bafiles extending up wardl-y *from the bottom wall of the "lehr and terminating below 'said conveyor rriea'ns, longitudinal ba'fll'es extendirig upwardly fromthe botto'mof the lehr'an d intercepting awnicarpiane of the transverse bafiies, and means for providing vertical circulation of gases within vertical zones defined by said interceptin g longitudinal and trans: verse-bafiiesincluding -an inlet member'extending thiough -aside-wall of the lehr between adjacent transverse bafiies below the conveyor means, an outlet member disposed above the conveyor me'a-ns between the vertical planes of said transverse baflies and extending 'through atunnel side-Wall, iridividually controlled heating mea-nsconnected to each inlet member, and pressure producing meansconnectedto each heating means and with 'eachadjacent outlet means to provide vertical circulation of gases within the zones defined by the vertical planes of said' transverse bafiies.

-10. In-an annealing apparatus, in combination, wall means forming a'hollo'w elongated tunnel; conveyor-means extendinglongitudinallyof the tunnel and'dividingthe tunnel into upper and lower Zones, transverse baffies extending upwardly from the bottom wall ofsaid'tunnel and terminating below-said conveyor means, 'said' transverse'baffies being intercepted and connectedby; a'longi tudinal baflie disposed upon the tunnel'bottomwall intermediate the tunnel side-walls, and means providing'ven tical circulation of gases withinvertical'zones' defined by said-intersecting longitudinal and transverse bafiies such latter'means including an inlet member extending through e'ach tunnel side wall between adjacent transverse bafiies below the conveyor, an outlet member disposed above the conveyor between the vertical planes of said transversebaflie members and'exte'n ding'through'each tunnel sidewalh-individually controlled heating means'disposed exteriorly of said tunnel and connected to each inlet member, fan'means connected to each heating means and with each adjacent outlet means toprovidevertical circulation of gases within the zones defined by the vertical planes of said transverse bafile means.

Hysore -QFeb. 28,1899 Morton et a! Oct. 30, 1934 

